FBI apprehends Michigan teen plotting synagogue mass shooting.

A Michigan Teenager Allegedly Caught Planning a Mass Shooting Against a Synagogue

FBI Special Agent Ryan Roskey has filed a mass shooting.”>criminal complaint revealing disturbing plans for a mass casualty event targeting the Shaarey Zedek Congregation in Southfield, Michigan. The alleged plot, scheduled for March 15, 2024, included detailed strategies and weaponry.

Unveiling the Disturbing Details

Sean Pietila, a 19-year-old, is accused of sharing his sinister plans on Instagram under an anonymous username. To avoid detection, Pietila would wear masks, often a skull mask, while taking photos of himself. He explicitly stated that he didn’t want to “show my face to the Feds.” Working in collaboration with Meta, Instagram’s parent company, the FBI was able to uncover other accounts connected to the anonymous one. By carefully examining the posts from these accounts, agents were able to identify Pietila, primarily through his frequent appearances with a cat in various photos.

A Disturbing Arsenal and Troubling Motivation

On June 16, the FBI executed a search warrant and made a shocking discovery. Pietila possessed a 12-gauge shotgun, a .22 caliber rifle, a Sig Sauer .40 caliber pistol, along with all the necessary ammunition. Additionally, agents found various knives, scopes, camouflage tactical vests, black skull masks, a red and white Nazi flag, a ghillie suit, gas masks, and military manuals on survival and sniping. It was also revealed that Pietila had initially planned to carry out the attack a year earlier but had changed his plans. The chosen date held significance for him as it coincided with the tragic mass shootings at New Zealand mosques in 2019, which claimed the lives of over 50 innocent people.

The Shaarey Zedek Congregation has not yet provided a comment on the matter.

After spending a day in the Chippewa County Correctional Facility, Pietila made his first court appearance on Friday. He was offered a public defender and is scheduled to appear in court again on June 22.

Read more: The Washington Examiner